Part 265: Saving Charlie
Charlie made his way through the jungle in a huff. How could she? How could she just DUMP him for that egotistical maniac? It’s the money, it’s got to be! He has the change to provide her with all the comfort she or Aaron could ever want. It makes perfect sense why she would leave Charlie and go with him.
WAIT A DAMN MINUTE, what was he saying????
Charlie collapsed on his knees, trying to hold in his rage. His mind began to hurt; his eyes were starting to become sore. He thought Claire liked him, maybe even loved him. Had he not taken care of Aaron? Charlie remembered Tony telling him how he looked good as the “provider”. He had never been a provider his whole life. Charlie choked; finding himself unable to breathe. The loss, the rage, the sadness, the anger; he hated feeling like that. He hated feeling at all.
And he knew of only one thing that could take the pain away.
Charlie turned the corner and arrived at the crashed Nigerian drug plane. It rested on it’s side, almost looking at him. The musician stopped and stared at it. The short man slowly began to cry. The emotions of Claire rejecting him was more than he could handle. He took a step forward, trying to force himself to back out of it. Then he gulped and began walking toward it.
Then out of nowhere Seth emerged from the jungle.
Charlie gasped when he saw his friend running past him toward the plane. He then noticed that Seth was carrying a bottle of vodka and a rag poking out it’s neck. The singer quickly ignited it with a lighter and then hurled it onto the plane. The Molotov Cocktail crashed into the bottom of the plane, spreading fire all around. “What are you doing?” Charlie gasped.
“Removing your temptation.” Seth caught his breath.
Charlie then tried to rush toward the parts of the plane that was not inflames. Seth then grabbed him and shoved him back. “You don’t need it, Charlie!” he screamed at him.
“DON’T TELL ME WHAT I NEED!” Charlie fought back.
The plane was starting to get engulfed in flames even more from the tried brush surrounding it. Charlie struggled to get past him but his friend grabbed him by the arms, holding him back. Then the bassist quickly punched Seth across the jaw, sending him down. The bookstore worker grunted and then grabbed Charlie by the foot, tripping him up. Seth quickly got to his to his feet, still holding onto Charlie’s ankle. The bassist grunted as he grabbed onto mounds of dirt as Seth dragged him away. “You can beat this, Charlie!” Seth said, as he fought him.
Charlie then twisted around and shot his leg back up, making Seth lose his footing. He then punched him again in the face. Seth jolted, feeling his lip swell up. Charlie got to his feet and tried to run toward the plane. His fellow musician then grabbed him by the shoulder and punched him directly in the nose. Charlie blinked and then wobbled; falling hard on his butt. “STOP HITTING ME!” Seth screamed, as he massaged his chin.
Charlie then turned around and began to crawl toward the burning wreckage. Seth ran toward him and grabbed him by the back of the shirt. His friend started to wrestle with him. “REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID, CHARLIE!!” Seth yelled, “If you take that drug, you lose Claire, you lose Aaron!”
“I ALREADY LOST THEM!!” he said, fighting his friend.
“Don’t do this, Charlie,” Seth forced him into a headlock, “You are better than this! Don’t give in now!”
“You are not my sodding brother! Let go of me!”
Before Seth could answer, there was a minor burst of flame that shot out from the plane. The two friends then stopped wrestling and looked at the plane. A loud metal began to sheer within the flying vehicle. “Oh, bollocks,” Charlie whispered.
Then a massive explosion erupted, destroying the plane. The shock wave flung Charlie and Seth into the air. The musician collided with the ground, grunting from the fall. Seth then yelped as he landed hard against the tree. He slumped down and didn’t move with his eyes closed. Charlie shook off the cobwebs in his head and then started to frantically look around. “Seth?” he asked.
Charlie then turned and saw Seth slumped against the tree, not moving. He quickly crawled over to him and checked his pulse. He couldn’t feel anything. “No, no, no, “ the musician grunted, pulling him down, “ Don’t do this, Seth.”
Charlie started to press against his chest, doing his best to jumpstart Seth’s heart. The young singer just jolted back and forth. “NO!” Charlie grunted, performing CPR, “SETH, PLEASE, WAKE UP!!”
Seth jolted with every push but didn’t budge.
“SETH, PLEASE! I TAKE IT BACK!!” Charlie grunted, “YOU ARE MY BROTHER!!! YOU ARE BETTER THAN LIAM EVER WAS!! HE NEVER HELPED ME BUT YOU DID, PLEASE, I CAN’T LOSE---“
Seth started to cough as Charlie laughed and helped him to lean up; patting him on the back. The musician grunted as he felt the air return to his lungs and the blood rush back to his brain. Charlie then started to cry and embraced his friend. The young bookstore worker just patted him on the arm. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Charlie repeated.
“It’s all right, brah,” Seth coughed, “I knew you would come around in the end.”
Charlie slowly parted from him and sat down next to him. Seth massaged the back of his head, looking into the distance and seeing the plane engulfed in flames. He then looked back to Charlie who started to cry heavily. Seth put his arm around him, offering what comfort he could. “It’s all right, Charlie. I wasn’t gonna let you go through with it.” Seth told him.
“I know,” he sniffed, “You . . .are a better brother than Liam ever could be.”
“Liam?” the singer paused, “He’s your brother . . .lead singer of Driveshaft, right?”
“Yeah. He . . .he was the one who got me on the drugs.”
“Charlie, I’m so sorry,” Seth sighed.
“He . . .managed to get off the dope . . .raise a family and live happily ever-after. I always . . .resented him for that.”
“Because . . .you were hoping you, Claire and Aaron could live happily ever after?”
“What chance do I have, Seth?” Charlie sniffed, “Clay is taller, more handsome and a sodding billionaire to boot. I can’t . . .I can’t compete with him.”
“Hey, broheem,” the singer leaned in closer, “You ain’t gonna need to compete! Clay spent his months here bitching about the ladies he was stuck with. You were here taking care of business. You killed Ethan. You helped save Claire’s baby. And you’ve also been looking out for them both the whole time. Clay ain’t done squat and Claire knows that!”
Charlie wiped his tears. He wished he had his friend’s faith. “Claire ain’t gonna dump you, Charlie,” Seth told him, “She can see right through Clay, I promise you that.”
“I hope so,” he sniffed, then looked to his friend, “Why is that?”
“Huh?” Seth blinked.
“Why haven’t you given up on me? Why .. .why do you stick with me?”
Seth smiled at his near broken friend. “Cause a good man didn’t give up on me. And he gave his life so that I could live. I ain’t gonna stop doing right by other people, cause he inspired me in a way no one ever could.” Seth grinned.
“Wow,” Charlie sniffed, “I wish I could have met Brendon. He must have been one hell of a person.”
“He was more than that,” the young singer smiled, “He was . . .my friend.”
Charlie grunted, feeling slightly better. “Why does life have to be so bloody hard, Seth?” he moaned.
“That’s the real question, brother. God never said it would be easy . . . he only said it would be worth it.”
Then in the blink of an eye, rain began to fall on them. Charlie looked up to the sky, amazed it happened so fast. Seth just closed his eyes, letting the rain fall on him. He then opened his eyes to see the rainwater dosing the flames of the wreckage. “You see?” he pointed, “Everything works out.”
Seth got up, but felt a little woozy. Charlie then immediately got up and helped him to his feet. The two friends then began their journey back toward the beach. As they progressed back into the woods, they noticed the emergence of two of their friends. John and Sayid had arrived, presumably hearing the explosion. Seth looked to Charlie with a raised eyebrow.
After a few seconds, they quickly ran off into the jungle, like misbehaving children.
WAIT A DAMN MINUTE, what was he saying????
Charlie collapsed on his knees, trying to hold in his rage. His mind began to hurt; his eyes were starting to become sore. He thought Claire liked him, maybe even loved him. Had he not taken care of Aaron? Charlie remembered Tony telling him how he looked good as the “provider”. He had never been a provider his whole life. Charlie choked; finding himself unable to breathe. The loss, the rage, the sadness, the anger; he hated feeling like that. He hated feeling at all.
And he knew of only one thing that could take the pain away.
Charlie turned the corner and arrived at the crashed Nigerian drug plane. It rested on it’s side, almost looking at him. The musician stopped and stared at it. The short man slowly began to cry. The emotions of Claire rejecting him was more than he could handle. He took a step forward, trying to force himself to back out of it. Then he gulped and began walking toward it.
Then out of nowhere Seth emerged from the jungle.
Charlie gasped when he saw his friend running past him toward the plane. He then noticed that Seth was carrying a bottle of vodka and a rag poking out it’s neck. The singer quickly ignited it with a lighter and then hurled it onto the plane. The Molotov Cocktail crashed into the bottom of the plane, spreading fire all around. “What are you doing?” Charlie gasped.
“Removing your temptation.” Seth caught his breath.
Charlie then tried to rush toward the parts of the plane that was not inflames. Seth then grabbed him and shoved him back. “You don’t need it, Charlie!” he screamed at him.
“DON’T TELL ME WHAT I NEED!” Charlie fought back.
The plane was starting to get engulfed in flames even more from the tried brush surrounding it. Charlie struggled to get past him but his friend grabbed him by the arms, holding him back. Then the bassist quickly punched Seth across the jaw, sending him down. The bookstore worker grunted and then grabbed Charlie by the foot, tripping him up. Seth quickly got to his to his feet, still holding onto Charlie’s ankle. The bassist grunted as he grabbed onto mounds of dirt as Seth dragged him away. “You can beat this, Charlie!” Seth said, as he fought him.
Charlie then twisted around and shot his leg back up, making Seth lose his footing. He then punched him again in the face. Seth jolted, feeling his lip swell up. Charlie got to his feet and tried to run toward the plane. His fellow musician then grabbed him by the shoulder and punched him directly in the nose. Charlie blinked and then wobbled; falling hard on his butt. “STOP HITTING ME!” Seth screamed, as he massaged his chin.
Charlie then turned around and began to crawl toward the burning wreckage. Seth ran toward him and grabbed him by the back of the shirt. His friend started to wrestle with him. “REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID, CHARLIE!!” Seth yelled, “If you take that drug, you lose Claire, you lose Aaron!”
“I ALREADY LOST THEM!!” he said, fighting his friend.
“Don’t do this, Charlie,” Seth forced him into a headlock, “You are better than this! Don’t give in now!”
“You are not my sodding brother! Let go of me!”
Before Seth could answer, there was a minor burst of flame that shot out from the plane. The two friends then stopped wrestling and looked at the plane. A loud metal began to sheer within the flying vehicle. “Oh, bollocks,” Charlie whispered.
Then a massive explosion erupted, destroying the plane. The shock wave flung Charlie and Seth into the air. The musician collided with the ground, grunting from the fall. Seth then yelped as he landed hard against the tree. He slumped down and didn’t move with his eyes closed. Charlie shook off the cobwebs in his head and then started to frantically look around. “Seth?” he asked.
Charlie then turned and saw Seth slumped against the tree, not moving. He quickly crawled over to him and checked his pulse. He couldn’t feel anything. “No, no, no, “ the musician grunted, pulling him down, “ Don’t do this, Seth.”
Charlie started to press against his chest, doing his best to jumpstart Seth’s heart. The young singer just jolted back and forth. “NO!” Charlie grunted, performing CPR, “SETH, PLEASE, WAKE UP!!”
Seth jolted with every push but didn’t budge.
“SETH, PLEASE! I TAKE IT BACK!!” Charlie grunted, “YOU ARE MY BROTHER!!! YOU ARE BETTER THAN LIAM EVER WAS!! HE NEVER HELPED ME BUT YOU DID, PLEASE, I CAN’T LOSE---“
Seth started to cough as Charlie laughed and helped him to lean up; patting him on the back. The musician grunted as he felt the air return to his lungs and the blood rush back to his brain. Charlie then started to cry and embraced his friend. The young bookstore worker just patted him on the arm. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Charlie repeated.
“It’s all right, brah,” Seth coughed, “I knew you would come around in the end.”
Charlie slowly parted from him and sat down next to him. Seth massaged the back of his head, looking into the distance and seeing the plane engulfed in flames. He then looked back to Charlie who started to cry heavily. Seth put his arm around him, offering what comfort he could. “It’s all right, Charlie. I wasn’t gonna let you go through with it.” Seth told him.
“I know,” he sniffed, “You . . .are a better brother than Liam ever could be.”
“Liam?” the singer paused, “He’s your brother . . .lead singer of Driveshaft, right?”
“Yeah. He . . .he was the one who got me on the drugs.”
“Charlie, I’m so sorry,” Seth sighed.
“He . . .managed to get off the dope . . .raise a family and live happily ever-after. I always . . .resented him for that.”
“Because . . .you were hoping you, Claire and Aaron could live happily ever after?”
“What chance do I have, Seth?” Charlie sniffed, “Clay is taller, more handsome and a sodding billionaire to boot. I can’t . . .I can’t compete with him.”
“Hey, broheem,” the singer leaned in closer, “You ain’t gonna need to compete! Clay spent his months here bitching about the ladies he was stuck with. You were here taking care of business. You killed Ethan. You helped save Claire’s baby. And you’ve also been looking out for them both the whole time. Clay ain’t done squat and Claire knows that!”
Charlie wiped his tears. He wished he had his friend’s faith. “Claire ain’t gonna dump you, Charlie,” Seth told him, “She can see right through Clay, I promise you that.”
“I hope so,” he sniffed, then looked to his friend, “Why is that?”
“Huh?” Seth blinked.
“Why haven’t you given up on me? Why .. .why do you stick with me?”
Seth smiled at his near broken friend. “Cause a good man didn’t give up on me. And he gave his life so that I could live. I ain’t gonna stop doing right by other people, cause he inspired me in a way no one ever could.” Seth grinned.
“Wow,” Charlie sniffed, “I wish I could have met Brendon. He must have been one hell of a person.”
“He was more than that,” the young singer smiled, “He was . . .my friend.”
Charlie grunted, feeling slightly better. “Why does life have to be so bloody hard, Seth?” he moaned.
“That’s the real question, brother. God never said it would be easy . . . he only said it would be worth it.”
Then in the blink of an eye, rain began to fall on them. Charlie looked up to the sky, amazed it happened so fast. Seth just closed his eyes, letting the rain fall on him. He then opened his eyes to see the rainwater dosing the flames of the wreckage. “You see?” he pointed, “Everything works out.”
Seth got up, but felt a little woozy. Charlie then immediately got up and helped him to his feet. The two friends then began their journey back toward the beach. As they progressed back into the woods, they noticed the emergence of two of their friends. John and Sayid had arrived, presumably hearing the explosion. Seth looked to Charlie with a raised eyebrow.
After a few seconds, they quickly ran off into the jungle, like misbehaving children.
posted by Jason | 2:43 PM
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